The Pretender - Photo Memories From My Youth

My heart strings were just tugged as I watched a photograph compilation set to the music of Jackson Browne's "The Pretender". The first thing I realized was just how much I love this song. The second thing was just how impactful seeing images from East and Northeast Los Angeles, which is where I spent much of my youth.

I monitor a Facebook Group "You know your from Eagle Rock if..." and a poster shared the YouTube video. Reading the song title I immediately realized that it had been too long since I had listened to Jackson Browne. I had a similar impression a couple of week's ago when Mr. Browne stepped up to the microphone to front the Eagles in tribute of the passing of Glen Frey as they sang "Take It Easy". This time I acted on the prompting and sat back and was overwhelmed with the desire to take a few days and just stroll through the avenues of Eagle Rock, Highland Park, Glassell Park, Atwater, Glendale, Griffith Park, and Elysian Park. SSo if you have a about 5 minutes, then sit back and enjoy Jackson Browne and enjoy the views from my youth.

About the author

Michael Leavitt came into mortality on August 3, 1961 in the small town of Brigham City, Utah. He was immediately deemed healthy and his Mom and Dad took him home to the nearby, but much smaller town of Bear River, Utah. 6 months later the family was on the move to Southern California with some time spent in Florida and then Southern California again. After a crazy upbringing in the middle of gang banger central, Michael caught the vision and decided to serve two years as a proselyting missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints in Southern Brasil. “That was an incredible experience that allowed me to devout all my time, talent, and energies serving the Lord” said Michael about his missionary service. Returning home and quickly turning 27 Michael found the love of his life and married Shelly Webb from Claremont, California. Jessica came along within 9 months of their marriage, later followed by Adam, Haily, and Aaron. The time has flown by and Michael now finds Jessica married and making him a Grandpa 3 times over.